At a Crossroads in the Mideast

Published: March 29, 2002

To the Editor:

Re ''Saudi in Strong Plea to Israel and Arabs'' (front page, March 28):

As it stands, the Israelis will almost surely refuse the requirement in the Saudi peace plan endorsed by delegates to the Arab League summit that Palestinian refugees be allowed to return to what is now Israel.

A limited return that might be enough for the Palestinians and not too much for the Israelis could result if the number of returning refugees and the number of Jewish settlers were to be equated.

Such an arrangement might be seen by the Palestinians as much better than nothing, and the Israelis might find it preferable to withdrawal of the settlers to Israel proper.

A secondary result might be a requirement that both returning refugees and settlers live under the government and laws of the state in which they reside, as Israeli Arabs do now.